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Original Source:
Express 22 May 2007 [Now removed from internet] |
| Tuesday
May 22,2007 |
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The
father of missing Madeleine McCann has
issued a direct plea for suspects in the
case to be treated as innocent unless
proven guilty.
Gerry McCann said Madeleine's family
wanted anyone under suspicion to be
treated "the way we would hope to be
treated".
Mr McCann made the appeal as he and wife
Kate prepared for a personal pilgrimage
to one of the most sacred shrines in
Catholicism to pray for a miracle.
His comments come after days of scrutiny
into the life of Robert Murat, who lives
in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz
where the four-year-old was snatched
from her bed 19 days ago.
Mr Murat, was seen going in and out of
the cordoned-off area around the
McCanns' apartment in the days after
Madeleine's disappearance offering his
services as a translator.
Asked if he knew Mr Murat personally Mr
McCann refused to comment, but he said:
"I would say as a family, we hope that
everyone else treats all suspects the
way we would hope to be treated and they
are presumed innocent until someone is
charged, arrested and convicted of any
criminal offence."
Mr Murat, 33, who has joint British and
Portuguese nationality, is the only
person so far to have been classed as an
official "arguido", or suspect, in the
case. He has not been charged, or even
formally arrested, but remains a suspect
more than a week after he was taken in
for questioning by police and his house
searched.
Mr McCann, who arrived back in the
Algarve on Tuesday morning after a
lightning visit to the UK, also revealed
that the couple would travel to the
shrine of Fatima on Wednesday, the
holiest site in Portugal.
The visit may well prove to be the first
step in an expected European tour aimed
at spreading news of Madeleine's
abduction across the continent.
Friends said Mrs McCann had considered
making the four-hour trip from Praia da
Luz even before Madeleine was abducted
and had been set on making the journey
ever since. The couple have spoken
publicly of how their Catholic faith has
sustained them during the recent
turmoil.
Mr McCann also spoke publicly about the
couple's plans to cross Europe to appeal
for news of Madeleine. "We will travel
wherever is necessary to ensure people
across Europe recognise Madeleine's
picture and encourage them to come
forward with information," he said. |
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